Authorities searching for inmate who escaped from Montgomery County Jail

Montgomery County officials are on the lookout for a dangerous inmate they say escaped Sunday.

Britt Privatte, 40, of Sugar Land was being held on robbery charges. He escaped from the Montgomery County Jail and has not been seen since.

In the neighborhood next to the jail, residents watched a flurry of activity from a helicopter in the sky to search dogs, and once they saw Privatte's picture they knew who to look out for, too.

"We've never seen that guy," said neighbor David Ortiz.

While Privatte could be long gone, neighbors also point out many hiding places in the area.

"Places where he could hide. That trailer there is abandoned; someone broke into it and there's not that many lights around here," neighbor Daniel Burns told us.

Privatte was last seen in the recreation yard of the jail. Deputies believe he scaled a wall and broke through the upper fencing to the roof.

"We have to believe that he is dangerous. Anyone that may know who or where this guy is should take no action themselves," said Lt. Dan Norris with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Privatte was in jail for several charges of burglary and aggravated robbery and escaped once before from Houston police. He is accused of trying to run over a Huntsville police officer.

"We don't have a neighborhood watch. I wish we did. Maybe we should get one together," Burns said.

Neighbors hope he is captured soon when we asked them if they're scared.

"A little because I have my family, a little girl and little boy," said Ortiz.

Privatte was known to work in the Walker County area and listed an address in Sugar Land as his home.

He was arrested January 7 by the Houston Police Department in connection to a bank robbery. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on warrants out of several counties, including Harris, Walker and Fort Bend. The charges filed against him include aggravated robbery, escape while arrested and burglary of a habitation.

Investigators with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Texas Rangers and other local law enforcement agencies are working together to track him down.

Anyone who may know his whereabouts is asked to call 936-760-5800 (Option 3) 24 hours a day or contact their local law enforcement immediately.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment of a felony crime. Call 800-392-STOP (7867). Anonymous tips can also be made through the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers website at www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org. ___________________________________________________________